4 Job Search Missteps to Axe This Year

For job seekers, the loads of advice found on the Internet is almost overwhelming. Unfortunately, much of this advice is downright bad and misleading. Some of this bad advice stems from the ever-changing job market and technologies created specifically for the job seeker. Let's face it - it's hard to keep up sometimes.

However, other advice comes from lack of experience and ignorance. It's time to wipe our job search slates clean of some bad advice this year:

1. Networking is the only priority.

Networking is a very essential part of the job search process, but if this is all you're doing, you may not have a fruitful outcome. In some ways, landing a job is about who you know, but you must have the personality, skills, and knowledge to back that up!

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2. Going back to school will help you land a job.

In some cases this might be true, but getting a new certificate or degree doesn't guarantee anyone a job - just look at the thousands of recent graduates struggling to find jobs right now. What you should be considering is additional education that will help you achieve your career goals in the future. Your expectations shouldn't include fixing your immediate situation.

3. Settling on a job is okay.

Job seekers, especially those newer to the workforce, are often told it's okay to settle on a job because you can't expect the best at the beginning of your career. Wrong! Many people love their first jobs and these jobs end up serving as a springboard to bigger experiences. If you're really not feeling a job offer, you don't have to accept it just because it's your only (or first) offer. It's okay to do what's best for you and move on - particularly when it doesn't feel like a good fit.

4. Nobody reads your cover letter and resume.

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Cover your ears! This career advice is possibly the worst around. There are plenty of other job application materials, digital and otherwise, that are taking shape today. But the traditional resume and cover letter remain an important aspect of your job application, so don't forgo the time and effort it takes to perfect them. It's best to use a variety of approaches in your job search, and that variety should still include traditional job search tactics.

Basically, you should understand that one single job search tactic will not land you a job or make you more employable. Take the advice and incorporate it into your strategy of the many things you'll do to find a suitable job. Relying on only one piece of job search advice is foolish and will ultimately handicap your job search!